Control device



Jan. 12, 1943. c. WANTZ 2,307,870

CONTROL DEVICE Filed Nov. 10, 1938 Int/922%)? Patented Jan. 12, 1943 CONTML DEVICE Clarence Wantx, Milwaukee, Wis, alsignor to Mllwaakee Gas Speciait Win, a corporation of y Company, Milwaukee,

Wisconsin Application November 1., 1938, Serial No. 239,790 12 Claims. (Cl. 175-336) This invention relates to control devices and may be characterized as an improvement in thermo-electric control devices of the general character shown and described in John H. Thornbery and Harold A. Manta P tent No. 2,126,587, granted August 9, 1938.

The present invention is illustrated, by way of example, as applied to a control device of the character disclosed in the above identified patent comprising generally an electromagnet, a suitable condition responsive source of electrical energy for energizing the electromagnet, such as a thermocouple positioned to be heated by a pilot flame. an armature for the electrom'agnet held attracted thereby when the electromagnet is energized and movable to retracted position when the electromagnet is deenergired, a valve member in the fuel supply line held open when the armature is held attracted by the electromagnet and moved to closed position when the armature is moved to retracted position, and reset means for resetting the armature to attracted position and the valve to open position. however, that the use of my instant invention is not limited to the particular form of device briefly described above but may be employed in analogous devices, for example, in devices in which the movement of the armature controls a switch connected in circuit with a solenoid valve operable to open and close a fuel supp y line.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved form of lead connection for connecting the lead conductors of the thermocouple to the coil of the electromagnet without the use of a ground connection through the housing for the electromagnet. This improved form of lead connection includes an improved terminal connector means on the control device and an improved terminal connector means on the lead conductors for the thermocouple.

It is also an object of my invention to provide an improved lead connection cap and magnet and armature housing assembly'of simple and improved construction and adapted to be applied to and removed from the valve body or similar structure expeditiously and as a unitary assembly. The magnet and armature housing assembly encloses the magnet and armature and excludes the gaseous or other fuel, as well as other deleterious substances therefrom, and, at the same time, permits ready access to these parts.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

It is to be understood,'

' inits entirety at ll,

Figure l is an axial section through a thermoelectric safety control device embodying my invention; and

Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure l. g

The thermo-electric control device, designated comprises a valve body I. having an inlet ll and an outlet 22 for connection to a fuel supply pipe (not shown) for supplying fuel to a main burner (not shown).

' The improved lead connection cap and magnet and armature housing assembly is mounted upon the top of the valve body II as the same is viewed in Figure 1, and when in place, closes the upper end of the bore 28 thereof. The lead connection cap 24, which is preferably formed of "Bakelite" or any other suitable or preferred insulating material, may be of any suitable or preferred form. It has at its lower end, as viewed in Figure 1, an integral cylindrical extension 25 which fits into a counterbore It at the upper end of the bore 28, and the cap 24 is removably fastened in place upon the top of the valve body 20 in any suitable known manner, conveniently by means of screws, preferably with a sealing gasket or washer 28 between the cap and the valve body.

The magnet housing" is in the form of an upwardly opening cup-shaped metal shell mounted on the cap 24, for example by secure pressed fit engagement of its open upper end in the cap 24, at 32. The housing or shell 30 is reduced at its lower end at 33, and the armature housing :4, which is also in the form of an upwardly opening cup-shaped metal shell, is mounted on the shell 8|, for example by secure pressed fit engagement of its open upper end telescopically over the reduced lower end 83 of the shell 30. The lower end of the shell N is preferably reduced as shown.

The electromagnet comprises a generally U- shaped magnet frame 36 positioned within the shell 30, with its legs extending through openings in the lower end of this shell and presenting pole ends within the armature housing 34. The magnet frame has a threaded stud 31 integral therewith, or welded or otherwise rigidly Joined thereto. This stud 31 extends into an opening or recess 38 in the top of the cap 24, and has threaded engagement with a nut member 39 for clampingthe magnet frame rigidly and, at the same time, removably in place. The nut member I! has a kerf 40 for engagement by a screw driver or other suitable tool, and a spring washer may be provided between the nut member 38 and the bottom of the recess 38 as indicated at 4|.

' the valve member Fixed rigidly in the cap 24 as, for example, by molding the insulating material of the cap thereto and extending endwise from the cap, are a pair of spaced metallic terminal connectors 42 and 43 having aligned openings 44 and split outwardly of these openings as shown at 45. The, electromagnetic coil 46 surrounds thelegs of the magnet frame 36, and'the leads or ends of this coil extend out through the terminal connectors 42 and 43 and have their bared ends connected to the terminals 42 and 43 at 41 and 43, respectively, in a manner to have good conducting contact therewith. The connections at 41 and 43 are shown disposed outside of the cap 24 and lateral- 1y of the openings for receiving the terminal means on the thermocouple lead conductors. The coil 46 is preferably covered with insulation between its bared ends at 49. Suitable insulation may be interposed between the turns of the coil 46 and the legs of the magnet frame 35, and between the lower end of the shell 30 and the adjacent end of the coil 46 as shown, by way of example, at and 52, respectively.

The armature 55 is disposed in the armature housing 34 and is adapted to be held in attracted position against the pole ends of the magnet frame 36 upon energization of the electromagnet. The armature 55 is of disc-like form, and is secured to the upper end of a reciprocatory valve stem 51. The attachment of the armature to the valve stem 51 at 58 is preferably sumciently loose, as indicated at 59, to permit self-accommodation of the armature to the pole ends of the magnet frame by a generally universal movement of the armature upon the upper end of the valve stem. The stem 51 is disposed generally concentrically of the armature housing 34, and extends down' wardly for reciprocating movement through an opening 60 in the lower end of the housing 34.

The valve member 52 is fixed by a pin 53 upon the lower end of the valve stem 51, preferably for some relative movement thereon so asto have self-accommodating cooperating valve seat 64 at the upper end of the valve seat member 65. Packing 58, of felt or other suitable or preferred material, is interposed between the bottom of the armature housing 34 and a metal valve spring seating disc 69. The valve spring is in the form of a coiled compression spring interposed between the valve member 52 and the spring'seating disc 69, and centered, if desired, at opposite ends aboutintegral hub-like portions on the valve member 62 and valve seating'disc 69. The spring 10 resiliently moves the armature 55 to retracted position, and 62 into seating engagement with the valve seat 64 to shut ofithe flow of fuel to the outlet 22 and thereby to the main burner when the electromagnet is deenergized.

The disc 69 seats downwardly upon a shoulder 12 in the bore 23, and the action of the spring 10 tends to compress the packing 68 and maintain same in sealing engagement with the bore 23 51 to seal the interior net and armature housing assembly is of simple and inexpensive construction and is adapted to be seating engagement with the I of the outer lead conductor 8|.

applied to and removed from the valve body 24. or similar structure, expeditiously and as a unitary structure. At the same time the armature housing 34 is detachable from the magnet housing 36 to permit access to the armature 65, and the pole ends of the'magnet frame 36. The magnet housing 30 may also be adapted for detachment from the lead connection cap 24 to permit access to the'magnet frame 36 and magnet coil 43.

The valve body 20 is suitabw bored and tapped at l5 for connection thereto of a tube (not shown) for supplying fuel to a pilot burner (not shown), fuel flowin'gto the tube from the interior of valve body 20 through one or more ports and an exterior annular groove in the valve seat member 65 within' the length thereof. The pilot burner serves, when ignited, to heat a thermocouple and thereby generate electric current for energizing the coil 46 of the electromagnet. The thermocouple may be of the general character disclosed and claimed inthe Oscar J. Leins Pat ent No. 2,126,564, granted August 9, 1938 and has extending therefrom an inner lead conductor 13 and an outer lead conductor 8! enclosing the inner conductor 19 and insulated therefrom by a wrapping of insulation 84 on the inner lead conductor 19. g

The inner and outer lead conductors 13 and II are preferably of a character that will permit bending, as desired, to permit disposing the thermocouple in any desired position. .At the same time, the lead connection is preferably of a character to support the thermocouple in any desired position, although supporting brackets or other means may be employed for supporting the thermocouple and lead connection. At the opposite end'the inner lead conductor 19 extends from the outer lead conductor 81 and has a metallic terminal sleeve 36 fixed thereon in good conductive contact therewith and spaced from the end An insulating sleeve 81 is interposed between the terminal sleeve 86 and the adjacent end of the outer lead conductor 8 I.

A quick detachable connection is thus provided between the'thermocouple leads and the terminals 42 and 43 for the electromagnet coil 46. The thermocouple is connected to the terminals 42 and 43 by slipping the terminal end of the thermocouple lead means through the opening 44 in one terminal 43 andinto the opening 44 in the other terminal, with the terminal sleeve 36 in the opening 44 in one terminal 42 and the end of the tubular thermocouple lead 8| in the opening 44 in the other terminal 43. The screws 33 are then tightened to clamp the split portions 45 of the terminals 42 and 43 into good conductive contact and gripping engagement with the terminal sleeve and tubular lead 8|, respectively. The thermocouple is disconnected from the device by loosening the screws 94 and withdrawing the terminal end of the thermocouple leads from the terminals 42 and 43.

' shoulder I01 couple issuilicient to hold the armature 55 in attracted position and the valve member 62 in open position, as shown, when the armature is engaged with the pole ends of the magnet frame,'but this thermoelectric current is not capable of moving the armature to attracted position and the valve member 62 to open position. In order, therefore, to provide for opening the valve member 62 and for setting the armature to attracted position upon initial operation of the device,'and to reset the device after the same closes to'shut off the fuel supply when the pilot light is extinguished, reset means is' provided. This reset means comprises areset stem 95 coaxial with the valve 62 and extending through the lower endof the valve housing 20. The stem 95 is provided at its lower end with a reset stem knob or button 96.

Fixed upon the stem 95 for reciprocatory movement therewith is a reset member 91 which has abutting engagement at 99 with a reset spring cup 99. A fuel flow interrupter spring I is interposed between the spring cup 99 and a flow interrupter disc valve I02, a retainer being provided at I03. for limiting upward movement of the disc valve I02 relative to the stem 95. The disc valve I02 is adapted to seat upon the valve seat I00 at the lower end of the valve seat member 65 to shut offor interrupt the flowof fuel to'the outlet 22 and, thereby, to the main burner during the resetting operation and until the valve member-62 is held in open position by the thermo-electric current and the reset stem 95 released.

The valve seat member 65 is in the form of a sleeve threaded into the valve body 20 at I05, and a coiled spring I06 is interposed between the on the valve seat member and the spring cup 99. The spring cup 99 is provided with a vent opening I00, and the reset member 90 has a conical valve part I09 which seats upon a shoulder I I0 in the valve body and seals the opening III. through which the stem 95 extends when the parts are positioned as shown.

The operation of the device is as follows:

When the pilot light is burning, the heat thereof upon the thermocouple produces a thermoelectric current in the coil 46. The magnet frame 36 and armature 55 are preferably formed of an alloy of relatively low magnetic reluctance and,

as av result, the relatively weak thermo-electric current produces a magnetic field of sufficient strength so that when the armature 55 is placed in contact with the pole ends of the magnet frame by pushing the reset button 96, the magnetic attraction holds the armature in raised position against the magnet frame with a force greater than the force exerted by the spring I0, thereby holding the valve 62 in open position so long as the pilot flame is burning.

If the pilot flame is extinguished, the holding action of the electromagnet ceases to be sufficient to hold the armature 55 and valve 62 in attracted .position, and the spring I0 moves the valve member 62 to closed position. Where the device is installed vertically as shown, the spring is aided by gravity in closing the valve, but the spring is preferably of suflicient tension to close the valve without the aid of gravity so that the device may be installed in any desired position. Thespring 10 also assures detachment of the armature 55 from the electromagnet upon deenergization of same and notwithstanding any residual magnetization therein. The closing of the valve 62 shuts off the supply of fuel to the main burner.

When it is desired to reset the device, the reset button 96 is engaged with the hand and pressed upwardly. The accompanying upward movement of the stem and reset member 9! moves the reset spring cup 99 upwardly against the tension of the springs I00 and I06. The reset member 91 forces the flow interrupter valve disc I92 upwardly through the spring I00 until the disc I02 seats upon the valve seat I04 and interrupts or shuts off the flow of fuel through the outlet 22 and thereby to the main burner. Continued upward movement of the reset stem 95 brings the upper end of this stem into contact with the valve member 62 and moves this valve stem 51 and armature 55 upwardly as a' unit, until the armature comes into contact with the pole ends of the magnet frame 36 or is brought into attracted position and the valve member 62 is positioned in open position as shown.

In resetting the device the flow interrupter valve disc I02 shuts off the outlet 22 against the passage of fuel therethrough while'the valve 62 is in open position during the resetting operation and, at the'same time, fuel is free'to-pass through the pilot burner connection I5 to the pilot burner upon opening the valve member 62 inresetting the device. As the valve 62 is opened in the resetting operation, fuel passes out through the pilot port connection I5 to the pilot burner, so that the pilot burner may be ignited to set up the thermo-electric current for energizing the electromagnet to hold the armature in attracted position and the valve 62 open.

If the pilot burner is lighted and sets up a thermo-electric current to hold the armature in attracted position, the valve 62 will remain open, and when the resetting button 96 is released the springs I00 and I06, and particularly the reset spring I06, return the reset button to downwardly projected position as shown. As the reset stem is projected downwardly, the retainer I03 engages the valve disc member I02 and returns same to open positionagainst the tension of the spring I00, whereupon the desired supply of fuel is set up to the main burner for ignition by the pilot light.

If, on the other hand, the pilot burneris not Iighted to produce the thermo-electric current for holding the valve 62 open, this valve will move to closed position upon release of the but ton 96. In this manner the device prevents the passage of fuel through the outlet 22to the main burner until the pilot burner is lighted and a thermo-electric current set up to hold the armature in attracted position.

I do notintend to be limited to details shown or described.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, in combination, a body member. a cap member adapted for attachment to said body member, an electromagnet comprising a magnet frame attached to said cap member and having coil means therefor, an armature for said electromagnet, housing means carried by said cap member and separately enclosing said coil and said armature, and actuating means extending through a wall of said housing means.

2. In a device of'the character de cribed. combination, a body member. an insulating lead connector cap having telescoping engagement with said body member, terminal means on said cap, an electromagnet comprising a magnet frame attached to said cap and having coil the precise -means therefor connected in circuit with said combination, a

' adapted for attachment to saidbody member, an

engagement said armature and terminal means, an armature for saidelectromagnet, housing means carried by said cap member and separately enclosing said coil means and actuating means extending through a wall of said housing means.

a 3. Ina device of the character described, in combination, abody member, an insulating lead connector cap secured to said body member, terminal connector means on said cap, an electromagnet comprising a magnet frame attached to said cap and having a magnet coil connected to said terminal connector means, an armature for said electromagnet, housing means enclosing said electromagnet and said armature and carried by said insulating lead connector cap, an actuating stem extending through a wall of said housing means ,and connected to said armature, and packing disposed against a wall of said electromagnet and armature housing means and having sealing engagement with the actuating stem and with the;inner surface of the body member. a

4. In a device of the character described, in combination, a body member, a cap member adapted for attachment to said body member, an electromagnet comprising a magnet frame attached to said cap member and having coil means therefor, an armature for said electromagnet, 1a first housing attached to said cap member and enclosing said coil means and at least a portion of said magnet frame, a second housing attached-to said first housing and enclosing said armature, and an actuating member connected tosaid armature and extending through a wall of said second housing.

5. In a device of the character described, in body member, a cap member electromagnet comprising a magnet frame attached to said cap member and having coil meansv therefor, an armature for said electromagnet, a first housing attached to said cap member. and enclosing said coil means and a portion of said magnet frame,,said magnet frame having a portion thereof extending through a wall of said first housing; a second housing attached to said first housing and enclosing said armature and the extending portion of said mag-' net frame, and an actuating member connected to said armature and extending through a wall of saidsecond housing.

v 6. Ina device of the class described, in coman insulating leadcon nector cap secured to said body member, termi;

bination,a body member,

nal connector means on said cap, a magnet'frame connector means, enclosing said magnet frame and said coil and having telescoping engagement with said cap, a cup-shaped armature housing having telescoping with said magnet housing, theipole means on said magnet frame extending into said armature housing, an armature in saidarmature housing, and an actuating member connected to extending from the armature housing.

7. Asa unitary and magnet and armature comprising, in combination, an insulating lead connector cap, terminal means on said cap, a magnet frame attached to said cap and having a magnet coil with its terminals connected to said terminal connector means, an armature, a

structure, a lead connector cap housing assembly cup-shaped magnet housing enclosing said magnet is deenergized, and packing net frame andcoil and having telescopin engagement with said insulating lead connector cap, and a cup-shaped armaturehousing enclosing said armature and havin telescoping engagement with said magnet housing.

8. In a device of the character described, in combination, a connector cap adapted for application to. abody member, a magnet housing telescopically engaged with said cap and having a closed end, an electromagnet in position within said magnet housing and-comprising a magnet frame attached to said connector cap and having pole means extending through the inner end of said magnet housing, an armature housing telescopically eng e with said magnet housing and having a closed end, and an armature in position within said armature housing and adapted to be held attracted to the pole means of the magnet frame when the electromagnet is'energized and released for operation to retracted position when the electromagnet is deenergized.

9. In a device of the character described, in combination, a body member, a connector cap adapted for application to said body member, a magnet housing telescopically engaged with said cap and hoving ,a closed end, an electromagnet in position within said magnet housing and comprising a magnet frame attached to said connector cap and having pole means extending g through the inner end of said magnet housing,

an'armature housing telescopically engaged with said magnet housing and having a closed end, an armature in position within said armature housing and adapted to be held attracted to the pole means of themagnet frame when the electromagnet is energizediand released for operation to retracted position when the electromagmaterial at the inner end of said armature housing and extending out radially at least to the periphery of said armature housing for sealing engagement with the body member.

l0, In a device of the character described, in combination, a connector cap adapted for application to a body member, a magnet housing telescopically engaged with said cap and having a closed end, an electromagnet in position within said magnet housing and comprising a magnet frame attached to said connector cap and having pole means extending through the inner end of said magnet housing, an armature housing telescopically engaged with said magnet housing and attached to saidcap and having a magnet coil with itsterminals connected to said terminal a cup-shaped magnet housing 7 having a closed end, an armature-in position within sai'dearmatur'e housing and adapted to'be held attracted to the pole means of the magnet frame when the electromagnet is energized and released for operation toretracted position when the electromagnet is deenerg'ized, an actuating member connected to said armature ande'xtending through the inner e'ndof said armature housdisk inwardly of the inner end of said armature housing, packing material in position between said disk and the inner end of the armature housing and extending out radially at least to the periphery of the armature housing for sealing engagement with the body member, and a spring engaging said spring seating disk arranged to actuate the armature to retracted position when said electromagnet is deenergized. s

'11.In a device of the character described, in combination, a body member, an insulating lead connector cap having telescoping engagement with said body member, terminal means on said cap, an electromagnet comprising a magnet frame attached to said cap and having coll means therefor connected in circuit with said means and at least a portion of said magnet frame, and a second housing having telescoping engagement with said first housing and enclosing said armature.

12. In a device of the character described, in combination, a body member, an insulating lead connector cap having telescoping engagement with said body member, terminal means on said cap, an electromagnet comprising a magnet frame attached to said cap and having coil means therefor connected in circuit with said CLARENCE WANTZ. 

